Preview: Kona's 2015 Lineup

Kona has released a sneak peak of their upcoming 2015 lineup, which includes two new models, the Process 167 and the Precept 200. Both bikes use 26" wheels, a somewhat surprising move amidst the waves of 27.5" bikes hitting showroom floors, but one that should put a smile on the face of riders who still prefer the smaller wheel size. An SE version of the Process 134 has also been added, with a build kit aimed at smaller, lighter riders, including an XS size that should fit riders shorter than 5'4". Take a look at the specs below, and stay tuned for more details and ride impressions in the coming months.

The 167 takes Kona's Process geometry (long top tube, short chainstays, short stem) and brings it to a slack, 26" wheeled ride meant to take on everything from bike parks to extra-rough enduro race courses. Plus, with a 150mm dropper post, you should be able to pedal your way to the top, giving the bike a bit more versatility than the Entourage model it replaces.

The Process 134 SE's sloping top tube provide plenty of clearance for riders under 5'4" to fit on the XS size, and the build kit has been chosen specifically to drop the weight of the bike without pushing the price through the roof. The SE version of the 134 will be available in sizes XS, S, and M.

254 Comments

I'VE NEVER EVEN OWNED A KONA BUT LOVE THEM FOR THIS 26 SHIT. f*ck YEAH KONA

EVERYONE BUY THESE BIKES AND SHOW THE INDUSTRY WHAT SELLS

Real talk though I love that they ditched the funky linkage/swingarm stuff that was on the stinky, looked silly but I heard good things about them. These bikes look great, people who are fortunate to have great jobs and buy brand new bikes, please pick these up and start dressing them up well. Excited to see what people will put together! Like seriously, a 200mm complete brand new bike at less than 3 grand? These are the business moves manufacturers need to push in order for the sport to survive and grow. The barriers to entering the sport are already too difficult, but things like this Kona lineup gives me hope. Thank you Kona, I may never own one of your bikes but what you're doing here speaks to me as a potential consumer, even if I only get my stuff second hand! My first AMB will be a Kona!

And seriously thank you for giving a decent looking bike with 26" wheels.

The proof will be in the sales. Let's see if they have a 26" Process 167 for 2016. My guess is no! I don't think I know anybody that's gonna drop 5k on an aluminum 26 AM bike that probably weighs around 33lbs w/ pedals.

Just to put it out there, some of the stuff said about there frames is true. I just cracked my 2012 operator, but i paid 400 and upgraded to the 2014 carbon frame and it is even fucking better than the 2012 frame!

IMO there are a lot of reasons to like the new Kona's, but if your whole opinion of the brand is soley based on their offering of a 26 inch wheeled bike (Which BTW many companies still do)... then you may be more part of the problem than the solution.

I have a 2010 Stinky among my lineup and I can say its my favourite suspension setup so I am sad to see the linkage go. BUT these bikes look great, and the prices are very fair, really excited for what Konas putting out every year.

I know this is a 2015 Kona write up, but since we are already on the subject of 26" vs 27.5", allow me to pitch in my two cents. I work at a Trek shop and have heard over and over again that they are planning on keeping their big travel DH bike in the 26" for park and non-racing as well as introduce it in a 27.5" version for DH racing. Why is this? I'm pretty sure that someone behind the product testing scene realized that, although 650b climbs better, rolls over things better, and maintains speed better, it will never maneuver the same as a 26". (In fact, there are a few things more enjoyable in life than smashing a berm with those tiny, nimble 26" tires.) I feel the industry has jumped completely onto the 27.5" bandwagon because it's "New." It's only a matter of time before 26" begins to regain some of it's popularity back. With that said, 27.5" is defiantly here to stay, but I don't think 26" will ever go extinct either.

dirtworks911 - I agree that there is a difference in feel between the wheel sizes. If consumers continue to demand 26, it will continue to exist. I think the limiting factor will be the manufacturers, who may decide it's not worth spreading themselves too thin by producing too many models. Since 26 and 27.5 are close, many will undoubtedly choose one or the other to streamline production. If 26 goes extinct, this will be the mechanism.

I test rode a process about a week ago. Wicked bike. It was the 111 DL, but the geometry is really dialed. I use strava. I'm not an XC guy whose trying to beat everyone else, but I do like logging my miles. And God dammit, I PR'd almost everything. Didn't think I was pushing myself that hard. There's something kinda magical about that bike. Great work Kona!!!

DMal, I can totally see that being the case for smaller companies that can't afford two different production lines just for wheel size. I feel some of the larger bike brands will keep the two different wheel sizes in their line up for the next few years just cus they are large enough they are able to do that. There are enough 26" loving pinkbikers that will be able to keep the demand up for now. The sport is expanding so incredibly fast (since 2001 when I got my first legit specialized enduro) that I feel there will be enough demand to justify the three major wheel sizes (26", 650B, and 29".) I feel mtn bikes are kinda going through an expansion phase like skis did. There were only a few different sizes of skis, now there are tons that even differ in width and camber styles. Wheel size for biking is much like ski width for skiing in my opinion.

I feel Schwinn did it right back in the day by making the 27" wheel. That's the size I am holding out before I make my next bike purchase.

...so, finally we have the ability to do some real world economics here then. I watch with baited breath.

Here we have a new, 26 inch, 6.5 inch travel big hitting aggressive-end hooligan trail bike for some, a mini-DH bike for others, a machine capable of taking you to the start line at the latest Enduro race for others or even your one-bike-rules-them-all for the mighty amongst us, in the Process 167.

It appears to the lay-man here that the sales of this one bike will be heavily watched not only by Kona obviously, but by the industry in general. If, and it is a big if, the sales of this bike outperform sales on similarly priced equivalent bikes running 27.5 wheels, then those of us who are quite happy thank you with our 26 inch bikes, can sleep a little easier in our beds dreaming of a bright future that still sees our beloved wheelsize in the shopfronts and our n+1 habit satiated for a little longer.

If sales are disappointing however on this bike, those of us who love what we have should take a large dose of reality pie whilst we wait for the last of the new 26ers, awaiting the chance to sing and rejoice in the freedom of being released from the never ending consumer cycle (no pun intended) of the latest and greatest, thus leaving us, our spirits and minds free to ride off into the sunset, blissing out on the 559mm of rolling rims under us, never to be troubled by the industry again. Amen!

Big props to Kona and Scott for giving us options for 26". Which is all we've wanted all along.Given that Scott is doing almost the same thing with the multi adjustable Voltage line. I think the 26" will stay in the gravity fight at least.

More travel doesn't necessarily translate to more grip. The fact that WC downhill is quickly shifting to 27.5 says enough to me, although I'm sure most of you will see it as some evil conspiracy between industry and media to sell more bikes.

The results in the WC Downhill doesn't make a favor for that switch to 650B, so I wouldn't use that as an argument. The reason for switching to 650B is because this is the trend currently and everybody wants to take a part, not because there is an actual need of doing it.

Also define 'need'. 3 Years ago I wouldn't have seen the need for a dropper post but after trying one I was immediately convinced I need one, same with wheelsize: I never thought I was missing out when riding 26, until I rode a 29er.

That bonkywonky, is a great point and is part of the the point behind my post earlier: I am sure that if I were to ride a 27.5 then I would find myself back in the old theatre of the n+1 drama, and out of pocket shortly after.

The question I asked myself, and maybe there may be others who wish to ask themselves the same, is whether the never ending race for the latest and greatest bikes and components is really worth it for those of us who are, at best, weekend warriors. I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that I am happy with riding what I know and love; my bikes. I hear bed calling and a morning ride.

Well, I needed dropper post since day 1 I was on my bike. I was even thinking to invent it. And I wasn't the only one on that boat. But I'm not about to get into wheel size debate. You think bike of this kind needs bigger wheels, I think it doesn't. It's something called opinion and everyone has their own. In fact this bike is pretty much like what I'm riding at the moment - big travel all mountain beast that can eat everything. They called it niche bike, then called it Enduro, then someone decided it's no longer capable bike as it has 26" wheels. In fact my bike is miles more capable than I am.

the riders and team preference is 27.5 because industry wants to sell more bikes. There is give and take with each wheel size but overall I think it doesn't make a hill of beans at the end of a dh or enduro race. The top 2 riders at the last world cup was 26"! Props to SC and Kona for sticking to their guns.

The reason why so many WC downhill teams have switched to 650b is because they are looking for any advantage to get their riders on top. Fact: 650b roles faster than 26". Another fact: 650b corners more like a 26" than 29". These two reasons appear to make the 650b wheelsize more appealing after weighing out the pros and cons of it all. In general, 650b is a DH and Enduro racer's wheel size, because of the physics behind it. Using that same generality, 26" is a freeriders and park rat's wheel size. @Mentalhead, if you want to argue against physics and tell us the 650b doesn't prove to show have an advantage over 26" in racing that is fine. You will just make yourself look silly on a public internet social network that very few people actually give a shit about out on the streets. Just please don't say that the WC teams are following the industry fads because they are way too smart for that.

If WC teams were looking for an advantage, why hasn't SC changed the V10 to 650b? It's 2014 so I think the science could have figured it out years ago what wheel size was optimal. 650b will certainly roll over things better, but increased gyroscopic forces will have an effect on cornering. I think it's a wash overall until I see some actual science behind it all.

I think the width of the wheel will have more effect on times than the height.

Jaydawg69, Just because one bike manufacture doesn't jump onboard with 650b don't mean the new wheel size is a joke. If Trek's Brook MacDonald used his 650b session prototype for the next world cup. He would lose time in the corners, for sure. But what happens when he gets out on the straight aways or rock gardens? Its all about pros and cons.

The problem with humankind is that we are too close minded. It's sad it has taken this long to have people realize that there may be a better wheelsize for racing than the one we've been using for 30 years.

@Jaydawg, I'm going to send you a personal message that will be titled, "Told you so!" when the V10 comes out in 650b.

Nice marketing links... still no actual time differences on a WC DH course between the wheel sizes.
SC may move to 650b at some point but I would hazard to guess it's would be a marketing decision.
Wait till industry starts flogging the 29er when they get the geometry dialed as the 650b market as been stale.

By that time I might be old enough to actually want to ride a 29er so that, sir, would be a win for me. No one knows for sure if there is a time difference or not because the experimental group in this testing isn't consistent. If they truly wanted to put this wheel size argument to rest, they would take Greg Minnaar to every single WC DH course and have him ride a 26" V10 and 650b V10 and compare the results. You can't compare Greg Minnaar's results on a 26" V10 to any of the top riders of the 650b clan because there are so many unaccounted for variables, like frame/suspension design and rider's ability, that destroy one's validity in saying 26" is best.

Yeah, the research was brought to you by manufactures trying to sell their products. But research is research. How about you show me research that states that 26" is not only better in cornering, but rolling resistance, acceleration, and traction. Here's a tip: you can't.

At the end of the day, you gotta ask yourself what is more important to you when riding. From the sounds of it, I feel you think corning is the most important (which is 100% okay cus it's your preference.) As for me, all the aspects of riding are equally important so that is why I'm a fan of 650b.

Okay, I lied. I'm not the fondest of the climbing aspect of cycling. I would choose 26" hands down. That is also due to the fact that I am horrified of the corning of all the 29ers I've ridden. I also wouldn't want to replace my 29er hoops every 3rd shuttle run in Park City.

remember a 650b is going to be heavier (wheels) so every time you pedal or pump you're going to be slower accelerating than a 26er. I think that's where it's a wash with the better roll over. But a 26" bike is going to be more nimble as well, especially compared to a 29er.

I'm sorry to upset you, Mr. Angrynipples (not sorry that you're gay because there isn't anything wrong with that, but sorry that you assumed "gay" meant bad.) No one ever said "gay" was bad here dude. #everyoneknowswhatassumingdoes

Some people like 26, some people like 27.5, some people like 29. There are pros and cons to both which all comes down to preference. 26 could actually make a rider faster coming off of a 27.5 if the rider is not the best at cornering but good at fast straight line speed. At the same time if you ride mostly recreational you might want a 26. If you want the middle ground you might want a 27.5. If you do less aggressive riding you might want a 29. Keyword: might. Either way we should all be happy because Kona realized this and make bikes in all 3 sizes. Props to Kona!

yes but this is with high end components - this is not the base model. and even though this is the price, this is the only bike right now that seems to be build correctly - low stand over, good fork and shock, long top tube and correct HA, a true buy and ride no plastic frame and wheels that we don't really need

Now, I hope all this great positive posts turn into sells. This year I got a 2014 YETI SB66 Carbon (26") precisely because the 26" choices are getting slimmer and slimmer. Shortly after, the bike was discontinued in the US due to lack of sales. If we want to keep 26ers around, we better put our money where our mouth is. If these bikes fail to sell we won't be able to complain about it. I went out of my way to get one the last great 26" bikes, let's reward KONA for having the guts touring a new 26" model to the market.

That Precept looks to be the same parts speck as the Park Operator which I have ridden and based on that all you would have to do would be upgrade the fork to something lighter and more adjustable and put a direct mount stem on there and you would be golden. The brakes and drivetrain are plenty good to get you going.

The people at kona are some damn smart dudes, in a market being oversaturated with companies switching to the new popular size, kona found a way to fill the gap for riders who rebel the wheel size. (Lowkey me included) This bike would shred shit into another realm, I hope this inspires some other companies to create unique bikes like this. Hats off to you kona, stay pimpin your comeback.

You guys serious?? Specialized Enduro is available for $5k with x1, pike, dropper post and CC Inline...Just because you can`t buy a $9k bike doesn`t mean that there would not be a market for bikes at that price range. I ride a $2k bike and could never afford a more expensive one and still I don`t have to hate on $9k bikes.

i agree, it isn't so bad. i'd go with the process 153 even though this one just came out coz i prefer the slightly bigger wheels. kona is just giving us more options, something other companies aren't doing any more. mega props to kona!

Honest to god, I want this thing so much it hurts. I have an Entourage which is the best handling thing ever, to make it lighter and pedal better would turn it into a one bike to rule them all for me.
Looks like my Entourage and Specialized Pitch are up for sale

That's what I have been thinking the while time during the 27.5 movement. The bigger wheeled DH bikes may in fact be faster and roll a bit better which helps a racer, but the truth is a large portion of the people buying DH bikes aren't actually racing and a just using them to ride recreationally at bike parks, and shuttling etc. And for that crowd, which I'm included, a 26 inch DH bike will likely always be preferred since there isn't much of a concern for a few extra seconds here and there. I've always said I could see the 26 inch downhill bike evolving into a heavy duty, dual crown park bike. If bike companies were smart they'd keep something like it in thier lineups because in think there will always be a market for it.

-Hell yeah Kona!!!!!!!-26" check-Budget check-1x check hell yeah, gutsy, no risk no reward well done Kona, check-modern GEO for the masses check-sic as designs, check-Cable routing done right check, amazing how they get this right and so many OTT priced bikes still like road bikes, pet peave and I wont stop till all mtb coy do this right!!!

It can be done, funny, this is a rider for riders coy, no bs marketing vids just got it done!Take my hats off to Konas rebirth!!

Kona have always represented the care free 'freeriders' who just want to have fun on a bike, nearly everyone starting out rode a stinky at some point. Thankyou Kona for staying true to your market and realising that 26" wheels are for people who want to have fun riding, 650b are for 40yr olds who just buy what their lbs tells them to and 29" is for guys who want to ride to keep fit... Stay fun Kona!

40+ yr old here. I have two 26" and one 27.5" (US still hasn't gone metric ) bikes. I bought the 27.5 solely on the frame design...the wheel-size was irrelevant (although I wouldn't have gotten the bike if it were a 29er). I also work at my lbs.

Damn i should have said 50yr olds to be safe. Lol. No offence intended i was just making a stereotype :-p Just meet a bunch of guys at trails who all ride new 650b/29rs, generally Yeti or Santa cruz, and basically mock my 26" wheels and are determined I wont be able to get up the technical climbs with my inferior wheels as its "impossible on 26" wheels" haha. They are like living breathing marketing bull$hitters for big wheels, all of which information they cite as being from 'the guy at their bike store'...

I don't know if the process is really an everything bike. I'm sure it COULD pedal uphill, but that geometry would not make pedaling around very comfortable. The way I see it, it's a modern freeride bike. Wouldn't really want to go on a long epic trail ride with a bottome bracket that low, such slack STA and HTA, and such short chainstays. But it looks like a helluva freeride bike.

What a refreshing thing to see: a well spec'd bike that's also available for small riders. Looks like Kona have been listening, not all short girls want 120 mm XC bikes. If only the P 167 was also available as XS, it'd be top of my shopping list.

I could buy a 2013 Kona Operator for AU$2650 last time I looked. The Giant Glory 2 is AU$2899 RRP so even less after some bargaining. I like the look of the Precept but its still not cheap enough for an "entry level" DH bike. The Polygon Colossus DH1.0 is only AU$1998.

This new Kona will come in well above 3K RRP for us aussies....

As for 26" V's 27.5" I think you would need to be at world cup level before you noticed any real difference. Currently riding a SC Bronson and it does not feel any different to an 26" to me as far as agility is concerned.

More choice is always a good thing for consumers though, maybe not so good for the manufacturers...

these bikes wouldn't fit on my bike rack. I've owned a kona stuff, a dawgma, and a stinky. They were all good bikes until I... broke my stinky. I will probably own another kona at some point in my life and I look forward to seeing what they put out. I really wanted an entourage but had to buy a used bike at the time so I bought a Transition... and no one on pinkbike wants to buy it.

I have been a sole Kona rider now coming up for 9 years. My loyalty has never faltered even with abuse from other riders. I have owned 10 different Kona's in that time and had no issues let alone a snap across most diciplines. It is great seeing Kona gaining their respect back after that rough patch. Chris Mandell really has revived the brand and are once again desirable by the masses. Also mad props for sticking to 26" on certain models.

Wow, awesome bikes. I have a current 134 DL. And it's sweet. I just happened to build it up just like the new SE model. 1x with narrow wide ring and T. Rex adapter. And rebuilt the hubs to WTB KOMs. Dropped 120 grams off each wheel

Process 167, DAMN that standover height though! I Used to own a Coiler back in the days. Used to bomb whatever i wanted with that frame. Kona is great company and they make great bikes with the right price!

I have a question. Yeti said that stopped manufacturing 26-inch chassis because they couldnt be sold. Yet Kona is making 26-inch chassis because, I guess, they can be sold.Then... are the Yeti guys retards? does Kona know something that others don't?

Anyone know what rear derailleur that is on the precept 200? I have a glory 2 which is also $3000, and has a similar spec, except with elixir 5s and an x5 derailleur. So this seems like a better deal unless you really don't want a single pivot rear suspension.

Here in europe we are furtunate enough to select from several 3-4000USD downhill bikes. Canyon Torque DHX, YT Tues and the list goes on.
btw. the 167 process is a really nice hard enduro rig. I'd buy one for myself also but since I can choose between YT Capra and the Canyon Strive CF for the same amount of cash but with full carbon frames and dream components, the Kona is out of my sight.

Saw Aggy riding his proto 167 at silverstar a couple weeks ago. He had it built with a new pike rct3, sram x01 dh kit and havoc wheels. said it pretty much rides like his entourage in a slightly lighter package. looked badass in person too.

Sorry Kona but the Process 167 it's not a top spec to worth £3999 (1k cheaper in US - $4999)! LOLSram X1, Avid Guide RS, WTB rims and Kona stem, no way. I'll get a YT Capra for £800 less and a much better spec on a carbon frame! Very disappointed with the price.

Honestly not to thrilled on the precept.. Looks cheap n not as burly as the operator.. Also killin the entourage with the process is a bad move, the price point is too high when the entouage had 2 models within a reasonable price range...

So a guy walks in a bike store and says he wants to buy a new bike, one of those 650b ones because everything I read right now tells me this new wheel size is the the way to go. How about this Kona, asks the sales guy, this is great and its got the 26 inch wheel, 26 ain't dead! Yeah, says the buyer, but isn't 27.5 the way to go? That's what the mags all tell me, and that's what all the manufacturers tell me, so that's what I want! Those guys who already have 26 inch wheel bikes, are they all gonna go out and buy new Konas? I have a feeling that if they past with the amount of money required for a new bike, they are gonna buy 650b

I'm having real trouble with the 167. What the hell is it?? It's not a mini downhill bike as it has 1x11 and its not an enduro bike as it has angles and travel not far off a dh rig (and it has Lyriks when it should have Pikes). Oh and its wheels are soooooooo small. It's so 2012!! LTTP HLAS

And how many 26" wheel versions of that 167 are they going to sell, hardly any? Whats even worse than putting the wrong wheel size on is the fact that they have put the outdated Lyriks upfront. Why on earth would you have Lyriks over Pikes? People need to get over the fact that on this type of bike 26 is dead!! It died a long time ago.

Lyrik is 170mm of travel with a 20mm axle. It's light and stiff fork and I'm absolutely lovin' it. I've heard only great things for the new Pike, no doubt it's amazing fork, but it's different purpose fork. Lyrik got it's place and the Process 167 is exactly that king of bike that needs that kind of fork. And there is no such a thing as a wrong or right wheels size. Face it.

Douchbag?? What the flying f**k is a douchbag?? Where is it written in the rules and regulations of the mountain bike world that the out of date scene of Free ride bike have to have 26" wheels? Wake up!!!........26 is very very dead!!

yeah, but i hope its either a reflection making them look small, or its a new super fancy carbon- iron blend that can withstand a bomb. on a side note, that precept is a very attractive bike with an even more attractive price tag.